Delay step 1?

[ms32013]

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Need some advice on if I should delay taking step 1. I tried to work from to many sources early on, focusing on details that were small and probably irrelevant. Now I'm suppose to take my test in less than a week and I haven't taken a nbme practice, and my uworld scores are averaging less than 50%. I realized that over focusing on all the small details to early, I didn't save myself enough time to get some more important points. Now I'm worried that I'd fail if I took it at my scheduled time.

If I took a year for independent study, taking some of this time to study for step 1, and also did research and got some publications would that be looked down on for residency? BTW I'm hoping to do IM with an intention of going to cardiology.

 

[VenusinFurs]

Need some advice on if I should delay taking step 1. I tried to work from to many sources early on, focusing on details that were small and probably irrelevant. Now I'm suppose to take my test in less than a week and I haven't taken a nbme practice, and my uworld scores are averaging less than 50%. I realized that over focusing on all the small details to early, I didn't save myself enough time to get some more important points. Now I'm worried that I'd fail if I took it at my scheduled time.

If I took a year for independent study, taking some of this time to study for step 1, and also did research and got some publications would that be looked down on for residency? BTW I'm hoping to do IM with an intention of going to cardiology.

I don't know that UWorld scores correlate to step 1 scores at all. UWorld is pretty difficult. I would take an NBME before you decide.

 

[happylunchbox]

Need some advice on if I should delay taking step 1. I tried to work from to many sources early on, focusing on details that were small and probably irrelevant. Now I'm suppose to take my test in less than a week and I haven't taken a nbme practice, and my uworld scores are averaging less than 50%. I realized that over focusing on all the small details to early, I didn't save myself enough time to get some more important points. Now I'm worried that I'd fail if I took it at my scheduled time.

If I took a year for independent study, taking some of this time to study for step 1, and also did research and got some publications would that be looked down on for residency? BTW I'm hoping to do IM with an intention of going to cardiology.

Have your recent scores been ~50%? That put's you right on the border of passing based on some (guess)estimation sites out there (search this forum for links to them). Probably right around 185-205. The thing is, UW is not necessarily a great barometer of how you'll do, as many people to get owned by UW and then do great on NBMEs or the real deal. I haven't taken the exam yet (this Thursday!) but I agree with the other poster...you gotta take a practice NBME to get a better idea of where you stand. If you decide to take it, I'd focus on FA, FA, and FA until your exam. And then more FA. Good luck!

 

[ms32013]

I know that world is tough, it's just that I'm scoring below average compared to other students. I also don't feel prepared. My question is how does it look to take that year off if I do research and get publications? Is that a positive or a negative on an application.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Need some advice on if I should delay taking step 1. I tried to work from to many sources early on, focusing on details that were small and probably irrelevant. Now I'm suppose to take my test in less than a week and I haven't taken a nbme practice, and my uworld scores are averaging less than 50%. I realized that over focusing on all the small details to early, I didn't save myself enough time to get some more important points. Now I'm worried that I'd fail if I took it at my scheduled time.

If I took a year for independent study, taking some of this time to study for step 1, and also did research and got some publications would that be looked down on for residency? BTW I'm hoping to do IM with an intention of going to cardiology.

Don't you usually have to take the usmle before you go on leaves, independent study, etc?

Take an nbme and see where you stand before changing test dates etc.

 

[ms32013]

Talking to an advisor I could take an independent study to prepare for boards and do research. I will take an NBME before changing test dates, but again my big question is how would taking independent study and doing research appear on a resume?
Has anyone taken a semester or a year for independent study for research? Or do residencies expect that it MDs (without any additional degrees) graduate in 4 years regardless. I would think that taking time to publish research would be viewed positively but I have nothing to base that off of.

 

[ar2388]

i think taking a year off for research and getting some pubs out of it is a great idea. dont many students who want comeptitive specialities usually take a year off (maybe usually after 4th year) to have a better chance?

 

[englishpatient]

Wouldn't it look really weird to take a year off without taking Step 1 first? Mstps usually do their PhD after 2nd year but they take Step 1 right away while the material is fresh.

+1 to taking an NBME before making such a huge decision. Also can you not ask for a delay in starting 3rd year?

 

[ms32013]

I didn't mean take step 1 after a year of being off. I was going to take a year off taking the first few months to study, then do research for around 8-9 months. I think that taking a late step 1 (roughly august), would be ok if I had research from september-may and got some publications out of it.

So again positive or negative on transcript?

 

[Domerr]

Even if you want to take time off for research, you'll need to write your Step 1 first. Students that want to delay Step 1 are oftentimes given a different type of LOA (Leave of Absence) than those that want to do research (but took Step 1 on time).

Simply put, residency directors will immediately pick up the fact that your primary motive for delaying entry into 3rd year is not research, but rather to delay Step 1. Whether you have research/publication or not, such LOA looks bad on transcript.

 

[DrDrToBe]

I didn't mean take step 1 after a year of being off. I was going to take a year off taking the first few months to study, then do research for around 8-9 months. I think that taking a late step 1 (roughly august), would be ok if I had research from september-may and got some publications out of it.

So again positive or negative on transcript?

Definitely not a positive if you do research and get pubs. At my school students going into competitive specialties are highly recommended to take a year off and do research within that field (I'd say about 1/10 students take the year off each year).

 

[ms32013]

Not a positive?

You said at your school students are recommended to do so...

 

[Poiu86]

I have several friends who are near the top of my class who are taking 1-2 years off to do research before taking the USMLE.

Different schools have different policies. A year out is a big deal... make sure you want to actually do it, and not just delay the boards. In my opinion, a LOA and good board score trumps someone that takes it on time and does below average.

 

[ar2388]

I have several friends who are near the top of my class who are taking 1-2 years off to do research before taking the USMLE.

Different schools have different policies. A year out is a big deal... make sure you want to actually do it, and not just delay the boards. In my opinion, a LOA and good board score trumps someone that takes it on time and does below average.

agreed!

 

[Domerr]

I'm in a same situation as you. Try directly emailing the program directors, and ask them if they think high Step 1 + LOA > mediocre Step 1. I emailed several PD's yesterday, and surprisingly most of them replied. Although many of the replies were vague, some were very direct.

 

[ms32013]

What did the PDs say? did they state that a LOA is bad, what if it is independent study and not a LOA. I was planning on doing independent study, using a few of those months to study, take the boards, and then use most of time to do research and get as many publications as I could.

 

[Domerr]

What did the PDs say? did they state that a LOA is bad, what if it is independent study and not a LOA. I was planning on doing independent study, using a few of those months to study, take the boards, and then use most of time to do research and get as many publications as I could.

Anything that involves time off of school requires LOA, including research. Most schools will give educational/academic LOA for that purpose. Those students are required to take Step 1 ON TIME though, at least that's how it is in my school. Talk to your school admin to confirm.

 

[Music MD]

Are you sure you have to take official time off?

I pushed back my test a month and took my first rotation off, and now i just have to make up that rotation during my fourth year. It was really no big deal, in fact I think it was the smartest decision I could have made because I would have been downright miserable starting off 3rd year in the state I was in (I got a full 4 week vacation after my new test date).

lastly, if you don't feel ready, DO NOT TAKE IT. it's just too important that you do well. there's no reason to jeopardize your career choices over one exam that you werent ready to take. i think i can answer for the program directors that a year of research plus a good step one score is better than not taking a year with a below average/failing score.

 

[MedChic]

Are you sure you have to take official time off?

I pushed back my test a month and took my first rotation off, and now i just have to make up that rotation during my fourth year. It was really no big deal, in fact I think it was the smartest decision I could have made because I would have been downright miserable starting off 3rd year in the state I was in (I got a full 4 week vacation after my new test date).

lastly, if you don't feel ready, DO NOT TAKE IT. it's just too important that you do well. there's no reason to jeopardize your career choices over one exam that you werent ready to take. i think i can answer for the program directors that a year of research plus a good step one score is better than not taking a year with a below average/failing score.

I feel like a lot of people actually do this. Or I mean secondary to those who actually do take it on time. Is this common practice?

 

[jmillski]

Hello- so I noticed you said- "I just do not feel prepared."

DO NOT TAKE IT!!!!!! Even if you had to forfeit money, had to give up a big toe, had to sell a sister, whatever- DO NOT TAKE IT IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY. I just delayed mine as well. I'm doing pretty well on my UWorld- but not much matters more than this score. yada yada research, etc, etc yes, but this score puts you in pile #1 rather than pile #2. It was worth delaying a rotation for me.

CONFIDENCE is the number one variable in how well you do at this point. If you don't have that confidence- DON'T TAKE IT. You will get questions wrong than you know the answer to- simply because of self doubt.

Alls thats saids- could you not just delay your first rotation until fourth year?

 

[2012mdc]

i think taking a year off for research and getting some pubs out of it is a great idea. dont many students who want comeptitive specialities usually take a year off (maybe usually after 4th year) to have a better chance?

It's not that common because stats have shown you have the highest chance of matching as a US senior. From what I know a lot people who take the year off after 4th year to do research usually didn't match the 1st time and that's why they took the year for research vs just doing prelim and applying again.

Are you sure you have to take official time off?

I pushed back my test a month and took my first rotation off, and now i just have to make up that rotation during my fourth year. It was really no big deal, in fact I think it was the smartest decision I could have made because I would have been downright miserable starting off 3rd year in the state I was in (I got a full 4 week vacation after my new test date).

lastly, if you don't feel ready, DO NOT TAKE IT. it's just too important that you do well. there's no reason to jeopardize your career choices over one exam that you werent ready to take. i think i can answer for the program directors that a year of research plus a good step one score is better than not taking a year with a below average/failing score.

+1. This is not uncommon at my school. Officially you're supposed to take Step 1 by June 30th but many folks waited until July and ended up 1 rotation behind. It makes things a lot harder if you want to do something non-primary care but it's still possible. And when it comes down to it a good Step score and being behind is better than a poor Step score

Need some advice on if I should delay taking step 1. I tried to work from to many sources early on, focusing on details that were small and probably irrelevant. Now I'm suppose to take my test in less than a week and I haven't taken a nbme practice, and my uworld scores are averaging less than 50%. I realized that over focusing on all the small details to early, I didn't save myself enough time to get some more important points. Now I'm worried that I'd fail if I took it at my scheduled time.

If I took a year for independent study, taking some of this time to study for step 1, and also did research and got some publications would that be looked down on for residency? BTW I'm hoping to do IM with an intention of going to cardiology.

When is your test date?

 

[Domerr]

+1. This is not uncommon at my school. Officially you're supposed to take Step 1 by June 30th but many folks waited until July and ended up 1 rotation behind. It makes things a lot harder if you want to do something non-primary care but it's still possible. And when it comes down to it a good Step score and being behind is better than a poor Step score

Why would delaying Step 1 make it harder to do something non-primary care?

 

[2012mdc]

Why would delaying Step 1 make it harder to do something non-primary care?

At my school there is absolutely no elective time until M4.

If you're behind 1 rotation instead of having the option to do a Sub-I in something like ortho or derm in August you have to wait till October. And if you need to take Step 2 early to improve your score it's harder.

 

[coffeeeandtea]

Need some advice on if I should delay taking step 1. I tried to work from to many sources early on, focusing on details that were small and probably irrelevant. Now I'm suppose to take my test in less than a week and I haven't taken a nbme practice, and my uworld scores are averaging less than 50%. I realized that over focusing on all the small details to early, I didn't save myself enough time to get some more important points. Now I'm worried that I'd fail if I took it at my scheduled time.

If I took a year for independent study, taking some of this time to study for step 1, and also did research and got some publications would that be looked down on for residency? BTW I'm hoping to do IM with an intention of going to cardiology.

usually the stories i hear about people taking a year off to do research are people who want to go into Derm or Ortho, not IM. i guess if you really want to get into academic programs then it would help you, and also if you are really that interested in your topic of research, then you should do it.

but don't just do it to delay taking step 1. like others have said, take an NBME before you make that decision. if you're truly not ready, push your test back. but if you're scoring at least a 220+ then you should just take it, IMO.